Integrated control of slug damage in organic vegetable crops- OF 0158

Slugs are important pests of a wide range of organic vegetable crops, which are high quality products, desired by consumers. Slug problems are especially acute in comparison to conventional vegetable production because use of chemical control measures is prohibited. The purpose of this project is to provide organic vegetable growers with effective integrated pest management techniques for control of slug damage. The project builds on the results of MAFF Project No. OF0137 (September 1996 to March 1999), which demonstrated that biological control using slug-parasitic nematodes (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita) can give effective and long-lasting control of slug damage to organic vegetable grown in polytunnels in autumn and early spring. Project OF0158 has established a number of techniques that are suitable for use by organic growers for integrated control of slug damage. Importantly, ineffective techniques were also identified. The results clearly indicate that no one method of control will give a sufficient reduction in slug damage where problems are severe. Suitable combinations of control measures are necessary. Key points are summarised below: • Cover crops: where these are grown for short periods only to prevent nutrient leaching, ryegrass should result in less severe slug problems in a following crop, compared to legumes such as red clover or vetch. • Where a fertility–building leguminous crop is required, lucerne appears to result in slower growth in the slug population than other popular legumes (clovers and vetch) . • A period without a fertility crop over winter, following an annual vetch crop, reduced slug populations to levels similar to those on plots without cover crop, by the following spring. • Slug-parasitic nematodes (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita), electrical barriers and hand-picking of slugs can all be effective methods of control. They provide additive effects for slug control and, as an integrated package, they can make the difference between a valuable crop and almost complete failure due to slug damage. • Single applications of nematodes were ineffective in some experiments. Work in a related EU project indicates that the commercial strain of the nematode is now less effective than new strains isolated at Long Ashton Research Station. • The carabid beetle, Pterostichus melanarius, was not able to prevent contamination of cabbages by slugs at harvest in September, even though crops were grown in the field throughout the beetles’ main period of activity. • Mechanical control of weeds (hand hoeing) did not reduce slug damage, even when done as frequently as twice per week. • Importantly, work in OF0158 has identified the possibility of devising systems of integrated control of slugs and weeds, both of which are the major crop protection problems facing growers of organic vegetables and soft fruit. Further work is warranted in order to develop practical systems for protecting crops from slugs whilst benefiting from their feeding activities in killing weeds

The impact of year-to-year changes in the weather on the seasonal dynamics of lakes

The methods currently used to monitor and model lakes were developed when weather conditions were very different to what they are today. Most are based on samples collected at weekly or fortnightly intervals and cannot quantify the effects of short-term, more extreme, variations in the weather. In this article, the author presents some examples to show the importance of developing new monitoring methods using case studies from a number of lakes in the English Lake District. The impact of year-to-year changes and short-term changes on the dynamics of of lakes are highlighted

Case study of the Dundee Academy of Sport secondary, further and higher education work (2013-17)

Widening access to Higher Education has been a priority globally in recent years. This has helped shape projects that work with educational establishments in more deprived communities to remove barriers to continued education. One such barrier is often the difficulty that students face in transitioning between educational environments. In Scotland, the Government have made widening access a key initiative and have supported projects that work towards this aim. The Dundee Academy of Sport (DAoS) project was established as a venture between Abertay University and Dundee and Angus College. The project works with schools from an SIMD20 (deprived) background and attempts to remove barriers to Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE). The project works throughout the educational continuum and supports students at each stage of transition. This study focused specifically on the work within secondary schools, FE, HE, as well as the role of DAoS in supporting transition across sectors. Six practitioners from three partner schools, two partner colleges and one lecturer at the university were interviewed to give their evaluation on how DAoS worked with their institution. At secondary level, work with senior pupils was highlighted as being useful in preparing students for FE and HE. Changes in attitude and mind-set for the pupils were noted among those who previously may not have considered continued education. Financial support and skills of DAoS staff were identified as being beneficial to schools. This suggests that a contextualised approach in schools can be useful for engaging pupils. This also suggests that by offering access to FE and HE establishments can make pupils consider these as viable options moving forward. Areas for improvement identified included further embedding of the project into FE and HE courses, further integration of staff, as well as the project being focussed more towards the senior phases of secondary schools

In Memory of the Holocaust: We Have Come a Long Way

Sermon delivered at the 18th Annual Christian Service in Memory of the Holocaust, St Peter\u27s (Erindale) Anglican Church, Mississauga, Ont, April 26, 1998

The New Testament and the people of God

Reviewed Book: Wright, November T. (Nicholas Thomas), Bp. The New Testament and the people of God. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1989. Christian origins and the question of God; 1